Compressor-controlling mechanism



A. D. FERGUSON.

COMPRESSOR CONTROLLING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 1. 1917.

1,394,819. Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

' [TI-can't. jdlerandelrfl 6728 h.

UNITED STATES PArENr oFFIcE.

ALEXANDER D. FERGUSON, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR 'IO SO'LI-IVANMACHINERY'COMPANY, A. CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS.

oomrnnssonroonrnomme imonam'su Application filed June 1,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known'that I, ALEXANDER D. FER- GUSON, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resid ing at Chicago, in the countyof Uook and State ofIllinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inCompressor- Controlling Mechanisms, of which the following is a full,clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to compressor con.- trollmg mechanisms.

It has for its object to control the several controlling elements of acompressor and its driving element in an improved manner whereby thecompressor may function automatically and efiiciently at varying speedsand under different service conditions. A more specific object of myinvention is to provide improved controlling mechanism for a compressordriven by a steam engine, whereby the valves of the engine arecontrolled in such a manner that the steam consumption is materiallyreduced when the compressor is completely unloaded. A fur ther object ofmy invention is to provide an improved regulating mechanism wherebythespeed of. the compressor driving engine is automatically regulated inaccordance with service requirements and improved co- .Ii

operating mechanism for controlling this regulating mechanism inaccordance with the requirements of the compressor. 7

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown for purposes of illustrationone embodiment which my invention may assume in practice, illustratingthe same in connection with a steam driven compressor of the Corlisstype. t f

In these drawings,--' t Figure l'is a side elevation, partially insection, of the compressor equipped with my In my improved constructionI have proimprovement.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged detail vertical sectional view through a' portionof the controlling mechanis Fig. 3. is a detail view showing thezmain Vunloading valve for the compressor intake and the controllingconnections therefor.

In this illustrative construction, I have shown-a compressor having alow pressure cylinder 1 and a high pressure cylinder 2 ese' cylindersbeing connected in the usua manner by an intercooler '3 and preferablyhaving their pistons (not shown)- connectedto and'driven'by asuitablepiston rod 4.- alsT) Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 25, 1921.

1917. Serial No. 172,816..

having pistons (not shown) disposed in the high and low pressure steamcylinders 5 and 6 of a suitable steam engine, this rod 4 also beingconnected through a suitable connection 7 with the compressor flywheel 8in a well known manner. As shown, each ofthe engine 0 linders isprovided with a plurality of a mission and exhaust valve mechanisms 9,10, the several valves being controlled through suitable valve operatinggear of the Corliss type including the oscillating members 11, 12,suitably con-v nected together by a rod 13 and also connected through asuitable connection 14 with the compressor flywheel 8. As in the usualCorliss construction, the valve ar shown in this illustrativeconstruction s also connected through suitable cut-off controllingconnections 16, 17, 18,19 with crank mechanism 20 controlled by anengine speed controlling ball governor 21 driven,from any suitable movinpart of the eng ne, as by a pulley and'be t connection 22. As usual, anunloading valve 23 is also provided on the low pressure cylinder of thecompressor to control the supply of air through the compressor intake,this unloadin valve preferably being normally held openliy a springmechaism 24 and closed by fluid pressure supplied from the receiver 25through a pipe connection 26 the flow of fluid pressure being'controlledby an unloader controlling mechanism 27 of an .well known construction,such as that o the Jarecki or Judson type adapted only to supply fluidto close t e valve and hold the same closed while the pressure in thereceiver 25 exceeds a predetermined amount. The mode of operation ofthis device'is similar-in principle to that shown in the patent to J. L.Osborne, 1,141,- 975, June 18, 1915.

vided an improved supplemental re lator cooperating with thecontrollingmec anism 27 and with the speed controlling mechanism furtherto regulate the operation of the compressor, and especially adapted to 1reduce the speed and steam consumption of the compressor drivin enginewhen the compressor is complete y unloaded. As

shown, this regulator includes a c 'linder 28 located below the governor21. n this cylinder 'is reciprocably mounted an upwardly projecting.sleeve 29 in which istelescopically carried a rod or stem 30 piv-.lower end of the sleeve 29 and normally held in depressed position atthe bottom of the cylinder 28 by a coiled spring 34 disposed about thesleeve. As shown, this cylinder 28 has communication through a pipe 35with a suitable space wherein the pressure is decreased after theclosure of the unloading valve 23, z. e., after a predetermined increasein pressure in the receiver 25. In the preferred form shown herein, thesame is connected to the intercooler 4, a suitable check valve 36 beinginserted in the pipe to prevent the intercooler pressure from enteringthe cylinder. As shown, an adjusting screw 37 also extends into thecylinder 28 m such a manner as to limit the movement thereinof thepiston 33 and enable the movement of the latter to be regulated asdesired, from a point exterior to the cylinder. Disposed within thesleeve 29 and beneath the rod or stem 30, connected to the ball governor21, is another rod 38 which extends downwardly through a member 39forming the bottom of the cylinder 28 and the top of a smaller lowercylinder 40. This rod 38 in turn carries a piston 41 on its lower end, acoiled spring 42 being disposed about this rod in such a manner that itpreferably always acts between the upper end of the cylinder 40 and theupper surface of the piston 41 to depress the piston to the positionshown in ig. 2. Connected to thls cylinder 40 and preferably at thebottom thereof, is a suitable connection 43 which extends to thereceiver 25, a suitable pilot valve, illustrated "connection 35 may becontrolled by a suitable stop cook 45. It will be evident also that anordinary pop safety valve could be used at 44 and a continuously openvent provided in the cylinder 40 below the piston 41, and that by reasonof leakage past the piston 41 and out around the rod 38, a separate vent.could even be dispensed with.

In' the use of my improved regulator, it will be noted that when thepressure in the receiver 25 rises to a predetermined point depending onthe air pressure desired, air will be admitted therefrom through the popor pilot valve 44 under the piston 41. As a result, this piston willriseagainst the tension of its spring 42 and thereby lift the rod 38,the rod 30, and the crank cylinder 40 and thereby permit the crank I 20to drop to lengthen the cut-off and increase the speed of thecompressor. If, on the other hand, the receiver pressure should continueto rise despite the fact that the compressor through the action of theregulator'above described had been caused to run at slow speed, theunloading valve 23 would then be operated through its unloader mechanism27 in such a manner as to shut off thesupply of air to the compressor.Under such circumstances, a par tial vacuum would soon be formed in theintercooler 3 and, as the pipe 35 is connected between the latter andthe cylinder 28, a like pressure change would result in that cylinder.Consequently, the pressure above the piston 33 which, due to leakage isordinarily the same as that of the atmosphere, would then be relievedand thereupon the iston 33 would rise, picking up and carrying the rod30 with it to a still higher position. As a result of this movement, thecompressor will be slowed down almost to the stopping point due to theshortening of the engine cut-ofi", but as the same is unloaded at thetime, the shorter cut-off of the steam valves is sufiicient to keep themachine turning over slowly. Here it will be evident that, if desired,the ad- {pstable member 37 may also be used to 'mit the amount ofmovement of the piston 33, and therefore of the rod 30, in such a mannerthat any desired length of cutoff may be obtained. As the machine slowsdown as a result of this upward movement of the rod 30 and theconsequent action of the cut-off valves, the rod 30' will obviously besupported upon the upper end of the rod 29, held up by the piston 33.Thereafter, the speed of the compressor as a result will be controlledby the vacuum in the intercooler until the receiver pressure drops to apoint below the point where the unloading valve 2&opens to admit air tothe machine. -When this occurs, however, due to inrush of air followingthe opening of this valve 23, the vacuum in the machine will, of course,be destroyed, and as a result the iston33 will drop to the bottom of itscy inder 28 in such a manner as to permit the lowering of the rod 30 andthe lengthening of the cut-off of the steam valves 9, and thereby causethe compressor the intercooler 3 as shown,

to be speeded up sufiiciently to carry the load. Thereafter the speed ofthe compressor will again be controlled by the receiver pressuresupplied to the cylinder 40 until the receiver pressure dropssufiiciently to close the pop valve 44:, whereupon the piston/l1 willdrop to the bottom of the cylinder 36 and the compressor will be speededup until the ball governor 21 goes into action.

Obviously, in the use of my improved regulator, instead of connectingthe pipe 35 to the same may be connected to any suitable point wherein avacuum is formed upon the closure of the unloading valve 23, this pipepreferably being connected at any suitable point on the inner side ofthat valve. It will also be obvious that, if desired, when the pipe isthus connected, the necessity for providing a check valve in the pipe 35will be overa come. In connection with my improved regulator, attentionis also directed to the fact that an independent operation of thegovernor, the pressure governor, and t e vacuum governor, is permitted,the several mechanisms operating in the desired sequence in such amanner as to cause the engine and compressor to be operated with greataccuracy and efficiency as conditions vary. Attention is also directedto the fact that through my improved construction the regulating meansis rendered exceedingly simple and of a type readily adapted to beapplied with small changes to a machine of standard construction, andmanufactured at small expense. These and other advantages of my improvedconstruction will, however, be apparent to those skilled in the art.

While I have, cally described 1nvention may assume in practice, it is tobe understood that the form thereof shown in this application,specifiherein is used only for purposes of il1us-' tration and that theinvention may be modis fied and embodied in various other forms withoutdeparting from its spirit, it being my intention to include all suchmodifications within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim as new by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a compressor, and driving means therefor of theexpansiblechamber type, comprising motive fluid distributing mechanismand a plurality of means sequentially controlling said distributingmechanism and controlled by compressor discharge pressure at differentintensities thereof to vary thespeed of said compre sor.

2. In combination, a compressor, and driving means therefor of theexpansible chamber type comprising motive fluid distributand desire tosecure one embodiment which my mechanism and a plurality of meanscontrolling said distributing mechanism and sequentially controlled bycompressor discharge pressure variations to successively reduce thepower consumption of said driving means.

3. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, andmeans for controlling the speed of said driving engine comprising-aplurality of means whose operation is controlled by compressor dischargepressure in excess of a predetermined desired discharge pressure, one ormore of said means being operative dependent on the degree of suchexcess.

4. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, andmeans successively operable to govern the speed of said engine, saidmeans being controlled by com pressor discharge pressure when the latteris in excess of a predetermined desired dis charge pressure, one or moreof said means being operative dependent on the degree of such excess.

5. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, andmeans operableto govern the speed of said engine, said means beingsuccessively controlled by compressor discharge pressure in excess, bydifferent amounts, of a predetermined desired discharge pressure.

6. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, andmeans successively operable to govern the speed of said engine, saidmeans being controlled by compressor discharge pressure in excess of apredetermined-desired maximum and one of said means being actuated alsoby compressor discharge pressure, one or more of said means beingoperated according to the degree of excess of compressor dischargepressure above said maximum.

7. In combination with a compressor, a compressor driving engine, andmeans successivcly operable to control the speed of said engine, one ofsaid means being operated upon a rise of compressor discharge pressureabove a predetermined desired maximum to slacken the speed of saidengine and the other being similarly operative upon further rise of saidpressure,

8. In combination with a compressor, a

compressor driving engine, means for controlling the speed ofoperation'of said engine comprising aamember operable in one directionto increase the speed of said engine and in an opposite direction toretard the speed, and a plurality of coaxially arranged meanscooperating with said member and controlled by variations in compressordischarge pressure in excess of a predetermined amount. 7

9. In combination with a compressor having an intake, an intakecontrolling valve,

, controlling means for said intake controlling in pressure conditionsafter closure of the,

valve, a compressor driving engine, and means for controlling the speedof said engine comprising mechanism responsive to the pressure developedby said compressor in excess of a predetermined amount and independentmechanism responsive to changes compressor intake controlling valve.

10. In combination with a compressor having an intake, an intakecontrolling valve, controlling means for said valve, a compressordriving engine, means operable to govern the speed of said engine, and aplurality of controlling means therefor comprising means responsivedirectly to com pressor discharge pressure above a predetermined amountand to changes in pressure conditions in said compressor system afterclosureof the intake controlling valve.

11. In combination witha compressor having an intake, an intakecontrolling valve, controlling means for said valve, a compressordriving engine, means for controlling the speed of said engine, areceiver, and coiiperating means respectively responsive to changes inreceiver pressure and to vacuum condltions in said compressor resultingfrom closure of said intake valve for controlling the speed of theengine.

12. In combination, a compressor having an intake, an intake controllingvalve, controlling'means for said valve, a compressor driving engine, areceiver, and cooperating means responsive respectively directly tochanges in receiver pressure, and to changes in pressure in saidcompressor system resulting from closure of the intake valve to changethe speed of said compressor driving engine, said means being sequentialin operation.

13. In an apparatus of the character described,-the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve,controlling means for said valve,

.a compressor driving engine, cut-01f mechanism therefor,'and aplurality of means responslve respectively .to the pressure developed bysid compressor, and to changes in pressure conditions therein afterclosure of sa d valve each controlling the oneratlon of said cut-ofi'mechanism.

' 1 4. In an apparatus of the -character descrlbed, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve,controlling means for said valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-offmechanism therefor, and cooperating independentlyopei'able'meansresponsive to the pres-a3 sure developed by said compressor and'tochanges in pressure conditions therein after T closure of said intakevalve for controlling the operation of said cutofi mechanism.

In an apparatus of the character described, the combination comprising acom pressor having an intake, an intake controlnae-gem ling valve, acompressor driving engine, cutoff mechanism therefor, a receiver,ressure responsive controlling means for sai intake valve connected tosaid receiver and independent sequentially operative means responsive tochanges in receiver pressure and to a vacuum condition in saidcompressor resulting from closure of said intake valve forcontrollingthe speed of said engine.

16. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, acompressor driving engine, cutoff mechanism therefor, a receiver,pressure responsive controlling means for, said intake valve connectedto said receiver, and cooperating independently operable meansresponsive respectively to changes in receiver pressure and to a vacuumcondition in said com pressor resulting from closure of said intakevalve for controlling the speed of said en- 1 7. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination comprising a com.- pressor having.an intake, an intake controlling valve, a compressor idriving engine,pressure responsive means for reducing the speed of said engine prior toclosure of said intake controlling valve, means'for controlling saidintake controlling valve, and automatically acting means for furtherreducing the speed of Said engine when said compres-' sor is completelyunloaded.

18. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve,a-compressor driving engine, pressure responsive means for reducing thespeed of said engine to decrease the quantity of fluid compressed,pressure responsive means for controlling said intake controlling valve,and automatically acting means for further reducing the speed of saidengine when said compressor is completely unloaded.

19. In an apparatus .of the character described, the combination comrising a compressor having an intake,.a n intake controlling valve, acompressor driving engine, pressure responsive means for reducing thespeed of said engine prior to unloading said compressor, pressureresponsive means for controlling said intake controlling valve,

and pressure controlled automatically acting arising, from shutting offthe air supply to mechanism, and cooperating independently.

means being operatlve dependent on receiver pressure Variations.

21. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means responsive toreceiver pressure for shutting off the air supply to said compressor, acompressor driving engine, means responsive to receiver pressure forcontrolling the speed thereof, and cooperating independently movablemeans responsive to pressure conditions arising from shutting off theair supply to said compressor for further reducing the speed of saidengine.

22. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means respon-. s1ve torecelver pressure for shutting off the air supply to said compressor, acompressor driving engine, means actuated by receiver pressure forcontrolling the speed of operation thereof, means responsive to pressureconditions arising from shutting off the air supply to said compressorfor further reducing the speed of said engine, and means forcontrolling'the speed reduction obtained thereby.

23. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means res onsive to"receiver pressure for shutting o the air supply to said compressor, acompressor driving engine, cut-01f valve mechanism therefor, meansactuated by receiver pressure for actuating said cut-off valvemechanism, and means responsive to ressure conditlons arising fromshutting o the air supply to said compressor for further actuating saidcut-ofi-valve mechanism.

24. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a com pressor, a receiver therefor, means responsive toreceiver pressure for shutting off the air supply to .said compressor, acompressor driving engine, cut-off valve mechanism therefor, meansresponsive to receiver pressure for actuating said cut-ofi' valvemovable means responsive to pressure con ditions arisingfromshutting'ofl the air supply to said compressor for further actuatmgsaid cut-ofi valve mechanism.

25. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor, a receiver therefor, means res onsive, toreceiver pressure for shutting o the air supply to sa d compressor, acom ressor driving engine, cut-ofi valve mec anism therefor, meansdirectly responsive to receiver pressure for actuating said cut-0E valvemechanism, means responsive to pressure conditions arising from shuttingoff the-air supply to said compressor for further actuatin said cut-01fvalve mechanism, and means or controlling the speed reduction obtainedthereby.

26. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, areceiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controllingsaid valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-ofi valve mechanismtherefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, oneconnected to said cut-ofi mechanism, means for operating one of saidmembers responsive to changes in receiver pressure and actuated thereby,and means for operating the other responsive to changes in pressureconditions arising from the closure of said intake valve.

27. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, areceiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controllingsaid valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-ofi' valve mechanismtherefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, oneconnected to said cut-off mechanism, normally inoperative meansresponsive to re ceiver pressure for actuating one of said members, andnormally inoperative means responsive to changes in pressure conditionsresulting from the closure of said intake 'valve for actuating the otherof said mem .bers.

28. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, anintake control-' ling valve,a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controllingsaid valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-off sponsive to changesin-pressure conditions resulting. from the closure of said intake valvefor actuating the other of said members, and means for varying therangeof movement of one of said members.

29., In an apparatus of the character de- I scribed, the combinationcomprising'a compressor having an intake, an intake controlling valve, areceiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controllingsaid valve, a com ressor driving engine, cut-ofl' valve mechamsmtherefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, oneconnected to said 'cut-ofi mechanism, means responsive to receiverpressure for actuating one of said members, andmeans responsive tosressure changes arising from closure of sai intake valve and having a vsleeve through which each of said members is reci rocab e, said sleevebeing engageable with t e other of said members in a prede terminedposition thereof.

30. In an apparatus of scribed, the combination comprising a compressorhaving an intake, an intake controlling valve, a. receiver, pressureactuated means connected thereto for controlling said valve, acompressor driving engine, cut-off valve mechanism therefor, a pluralityof independently movable engageable members, one connected to saidcut-off mechanism, means including a normally inoperative pressureactuated piston responsive to receiver pressure for actuating one ofsaid members, and means responsive to pressure conditions arising fromclosure of said intake valve including a normally inoperative pistonhaving a sleeve throu h which each of said members is reciprocab c, saidsleeve being engageable with the other of said members in apredetermined position thereof.

31. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an intake control ling valve,a receiver, pressure responsive means connected thereto for controllingsaid valve, a compressor driving engine, cut-ofi valve mechanismtherefor, a plurality of independently movable engageable members, oneconnected to said cut-ofi mechanism, means including a normallyinoperative pressure actuated piston responsive to re' ceiver pressurefor actuating one of said members, means responsive to ressureconditions arising from closure 0 said intake valve including a normallyinoperative piston having a sleeve through which each of said -membersis reciprocable, said sleeve being engageable with the other of saidmembers in a predetermined position thereof, and means for adjusting therange of movement of said last mentioned piston.

32. In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationcomprising a multist e compressor having an intercooler and an lntake,an intake controlling valve, a compressor driving engine, and meansconnected to said intercooler responsive to changes in pressureconditions in said compressor upon the character de-v closure of saidintake controlling valve for effecting a delayed controlling of thespeed of said engine.

33. In an apparatus of the character'described, the combinationcomprising a compressor having an intake, an lntake controlling valve,pressure responsive means for contro ling the same, a compressor drivingengine, cut-oif mechanism therefor, and means responsive to changes inpressure conditions on the outlet side of said compressor arising fromthe closure of said intake valve for effecting a delayed controlling ofsaid outolf valve mechanism.

34. In a multi-stage compressor, the combination comprising a compressorelement having an intake, means for closing said intake to. unload saidcompressor, a compressor driving engine and means responsive to a changein pressure conditions between two of said stages upon closure of saidintake for controlling the speed of said engine.

35. In a multi-stage compressor, the combination comprising a compressorelement having an intake, an intake controlling valve, an intercoolerbetween two of said sta es a com ressor drivin en e and means responsiveto a change in pressure condition in said intercooler for controllingthe speed of said engine.

' 36. In a multi-stage compressor, the combination comprising acompressor element having an intake, means for closing said intake tounload said compressor, a compressor driving engine and means responsiveto a change in pressure conditions between two of said stages uponclosure of said intake for effecting a delayed controlling of the speedof 'said engine.

